North Korea may conduct nuclear test, while calling for peace

North Korea is likely to conduct a nuclear test next year in an attempt to boost itself as an atomic power and shore up the regime's legitimacy at home as Pyongyang prepares for a dynastic power transfer, South Korea's state-run think tank warns. North Korea is also expected to launch more long-range ballistic missiles and provoke military clashes along the heavily fortified border with South Korea, the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses said in its 2010 outlook.

North Korea conducted its second nuclear test last May following its first in 2006, which led to tougher trade and financial sanctions by the international community. Seoul's Defense Ministry estimated the underground nuclear test could have resulted in a force of 4.5 kilotons, much larger than North Korea's 0.8 kiloton test in 2006.

In April Pyongyang fired a long-range Taepodong-2 missile, which is capable of being equipped with a nuclear warhead. It flew about 2,000 miles and crossed over Japan. The range is about twice that of a Taepodong-1 tested in 1998.

"There is a high possibility that North Korea would conduct a third nuclear test and launch more long-range missiles to solidify itself as a nuclear state," the KIDA report said. A third test "would increase the possibility of the international community accepting North Korea as a nuclear weapons state," it said, noting that the North is "highly unlikely" to give up nuclear weapons

Right. There could be a nuclear test. this year after some summit photo op with S. Korean President and Chia Head's visit to China.

The negotiation between N. Korea and U.S. would go on for a while and it will predictably break down. Then they will set off a nuke again. This time they may get it right. unlike previous two tests which left some lingering doubt on their success.

Wuld that be any diofferent than Russia testing an ICBM while Bammy was collecting his Nobel swag?

The bigger question is what will everyone do when
1) The NRoKs actually set off something so big all agree that the NRoKs are in “The CLub”
2) They shoot a missle that goes the distance.. say, past Guam, Hi or even past AK?
3) The litle nutcase begins the trash talk on RoK and talks of war. Now that everyone KNOWS the little nutcase has nukes - then what?

Be most intresting to see what (fill in the blank) Bammy comes up with. Expect a very weak response. At best.

Just like I said yesterday on FR with respect to DPRK and this phony olive branch crap.

Carrot-Stick. Carrot-Stick. Carrot-Stick. All the while building up capabilities beyond our control and often hidden from our eyes. There is no one more savvy on how to extort money out of clueless Westerners than this group up in Pyongyang. They have refined it to a fine science and art. It is actually beautiful, pristine and dynamic in a sick sense, you have to respect their cunning nature and carry deep disdain of our own repeated foolishness.

They jerk us around at will and have us wrapped around their little finger. It is reprehensible for the most powerful nation in the world to be treated this way by such a third-rate country, but that shows you what benevolent and naive idiots we are--through Democrat and Republican administration alike--for not figuring how to jack around THE NORTH KOREANS for the past 50 years. Meanwhile, MacArthur turns in his grave, and the day approaches that Kim Jong-il sends a diplomatic note through the DPRK UN Mission in New York City to Washington, threatening downtown Los Angeles, or Honolulu with a nuke launch which they will be perfectly capable of, in return from some kind of massive payoff bringing us to our knees. Quite a metamorphasis from our fighting to a standstill in 1953 and a UN arranged Ceasefire. The puny, lackluster DPRK committing nuclear blackmail of the leviathan, invincible United States of America in the early 21st Century. "Mac" would be speechless indeed.

Hey Tiger you know what us Freepers including me tick off my aunt she claim we shouldn’t be picking on Pyonagnag Patty she might be nice lady

I telling her WHAT

Saying my Freeper buddies are mean NO we feel sorry for her at FR COME ON

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